Existing-home sales increased 1.5% month-over-month in September and decreased 2.2% year-over-year, according to the Existing-Home Sales report from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The seasonally adjusted annual rate was 3.99 million. Monthly sales rose in the South and West, held steady in the Midwest and fell in the Northeast, while year-over-year sales declined in all four regions.
NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said August and September were the two slowest months for home sales this year despite the small monthly gain. He said recent increases in mortgage rates mean fewer buyers can qualify. He also said higher inventory and longer days on market give buyers more negotiating power, and that sellers may need to offer price discounts or other incentives.
- Inventory: 1.60 million units, up 1.9% from August and 4.6% from September 2025, a 4.8-month supply compared with 4.5 months a year earlier.
- Median price: $417,500 for all housing types, up 1.3% from $412,300 a year earlier, the 39th consecutive month of year-over-year gains.
- Affordability: The Housing Affordability Index was 105.4, down from 106.7 a year ago. It fell year-over-year in the Northeast (-4.5%), Midwest (-3.1%) and South (-0.4%), and rose 1.0% in the West.
- Property types: Single-family sales rose 2.0% month-over-month to 3.64 million (median $422,700). Condo and co-op sales fell 2.8% to 350,000 (median $363,700).
- Regional medians: Northeast $523,600, Midwest $329,600, South $361,000, West $613,600 (down 0.3% year-over-year).
Median time on market was 33 days, up from 31 in August. First-time buyers made up 31% of sales, cash sales 27%, individual investors and second-home buyers 20%, and distressed sales 2%. According to Freddie Mac, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 6.86% in September, up from 6.67% in August and 6.35% a year earlier.
Why it matters
The figures show how sales, prices, inventory and mortgage rates compared with a month and a year earlier. Buyers, sellers and agents can use the regional numbers to compare conditions in their own markets.
Source: NAR, October 13, 2026. Read the original release
